Compared to other years

The number of local ballot measure elections held on November 8 was a steep decline from the number of local ballot measure elections held in the previous three Novembers in California. Elections held in even-numbered years historically attract much higher numbers than those held in odd-numbered years. Comparing the number of local ballot measure elections on November 8, 2011 just to those on the November 3, 2009 ballot indicated a 30% decline in the number of measures on the ballot in these two odd-numbered years.

The eight school bond measures added up to a total request for $1.315 billion. The six that were approved came to a total request of $711 million (or 54.6% of the total that was requested). This contrasts to 2010, when voters approved a little over $5 billion in school bond requests, and November 2008, when voters approved $22 billion of borrowing in 87 school districts.